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Two Nigerian natives were sentenced to federal prison on Monday for their roles in what prosecutors called one of the biggest identity theft schemes in the country.
BALTIMORE -- Two Nigerian natives were sentenced to federal prison on Monday for their roles in what prosecutors called one of the biggest identity theft schemes in the country.
In all, four Nigerians have been convicted in the scheme that used mail stolen from a Baltimore airport to establish phony credit cards and checking accounts, resulting in millions of dollars in losses. A fifth Nigerian is described in federal charging documents as the alleged mastermind of the scheme, but remains at large.
U.S. District Judge Marvin Garbis sentenced Oladapo Udukale, 35, to nine years and seven months in prison for conspiracy to commit mail theft and conspiracy to commit bank fraud. Morsuru Sogbesan, 38, was sentenced to four years and seven months for his lesser role in the scheme.
Prosecutors said the bank fraud may have netted more than $7 million dollars over 6 to 8 years.
A former baggage handler at Baltimore-Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, Kehinde Akintola Oladapo, 48, was sentenced last month to 14 years in prison for mail theft while working at Southwest Airlines.
His wife, Olushola, 46, was sentenced Thursday to five years for helping her husband send packages containing stolen mail by Express Mail to various addresses, including two apartments in Brooklyn, N.Y. belonging to Udukale and Sogbesan, prosecutors said.
Prosecutor Kwame Manley said most of the mail went to Udukale's apartment on Nostrand Avenue in Brooklyn. Although authorities could document 250 victims who lost nearly $2.5 million through fraudulent checks and credit cards, the actual amount stolen could be as high as $5.5 million.
Manley said Udukale, who was involved in the scheme since 2002, was responsible for going into various banks to open accounts and cash checks.
"He was essential," said Manley. "Based on his involvement a majority of the fraud took place."
Udukale's defense attorney, Allan Bussard, referred to his client as a "minor player."
Bussard said that Udukale's brother was killed in Nigeria in 2003 by Babatope Oluwaseun, the alleged mastermind, because he was trying to help his brother get out of the scheme. Oluwaseun has been charged in the conspiracy, but remains a fugitive.
Udukale, a trained electrical engineer, wanted to attend Brooklyn College School of Engineering, but feared for the safety of other family members. He received money from his mother for tuition a day before his arrest in September 2004, Bussard said.
"What I did was wrong," said Udukale, who read a written statement in court. "I take full responsibility and I'm very sorry for all I've done."
Udukale is in the country illegally and could faces deportation, officials said.
Sogbesan, who joined the ring in May 2004, and received 19 pieces of stolen mail that contained nearly 162 credit cards, said Tamera Fine, another prosecutor.
Sogbesan's brief participation was mainly in credit card fraud, but resulted in nearly $400,000 in losses, she said.
"It's a crime that is becoming pervasive in our culture," she said. "Our financial health is important."
Sogbesan's defense attorney, Robert Mance, said his client was "emotionally fragile" and threatened to commit suicide while in custody.
Sogbesan is a legal citizen who has been in the country for 10 years.
"I'm not going to blame anybody for what I did," he told the court. "I'm ashamed of myself and I cry every day. I'm sorry."